Cross-protection between chikungunya vaccine and Mayaro virus
Official title: Mechanism of cross-reaction and cross-protection for Mayaro virus elicited by chikungunya vaccine
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11421693 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A vaccine already approved for chikungunya may also help protect against the related Mayaro virus, and researchers will study how antibodies and other immune responses could provide that cross-protection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | July 24, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $802,421 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI200941-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421693 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk of Mayaro virus exposure, or patients with suspected or confirmed MAYV infection, may benefit from future vaccine strategies informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without exposure risk or those outside endemic regions may not receive direct benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project looks at whether antibodies and immune responses triggered by the chikungunya vaccine Vimkunya can protect against Mayaro virus in both human and monkey models. The team will examine neutralizing antibodies, other antibody functions, and cross-reactive T and B cell responses to understand how protection might work. By using human samples and nonhuman primate models, they aim to uncover mechanisms that could inform future vaccines or therapies for Mayaro disease. The research could help anticipate and reduce disease burden in regions where both viruses circulate.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could pave the way for broader protection against Mayaro virus for people in affected areas.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research on cross-protection between related viruses has yielded mixed results, making this investigation especially novel and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Souza, William Marciel — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: De Souza, William Marciel
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.